Romance in the Rockies Whisk your significant other off for a romantic weekend getaway in Estes Park, CO and let the beauty of the Rockies help you communicate your love.  Most of us have heard of the book The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman, PhD.  No matter how your special someone receives love, a mountain getaway can bring the…

Question:  Why choose the Bear Lake option? Answer:    In addition to access to the rest of RMNP between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m., Bear Lake Road is arguably the most famous road in the Park! These are the popular areas you can access along the Bear Lake Road corridor:  Alberta Falls – spectacular falls with an easy hike. The…

Needed between May 26 and October 22, 2023 Timed Entry Permit Reservations are required along with a park pass/entrance fee in order to enter Rocky Mountain National Park if you’re visiting from May 26 through October 22, 2023. Permits issued using the Timed Entry Reservation system account for roughly 90% of the Park’s parking capacity, or approximately 20,000 visitors per…

One of the proudest moments in any hiking parent’s career as a hiker comes when they are first able to bring their little ones along on the trails with them. And with several scientific studies recently extolling the benefits of nature time for your kids’ mental and physical health, there’s now more reason to do so than ever. But bringing…

Rocky Mountain National Park is a hiker’s park!  To really experience it you have to head out on foot.  It’s a place of stunning scenic beauty that is good for the soul. Here are five easy hikes to get you started, plus a walk in town.  Take time to stop, reflect, and enjoy the beauty that you’ll be surrounded with….

Get your wilderness camping permit online!

Mountain weather the world over is notoriously fickle and unpredictable, and Rocky Mountain National Park is no exception. Average temperatures in and around the park vary greatly from season to season and depending on elevation, ranging from well below zero in winter months to the high 80s in summer. To make sure your hikes here are as safe and enjoyable…

The Estes Park Aerial Tramway was designed and built by Robert Heron, who became involved with tramways during World War II. After the war Mr. Heron traveled to Europe to study tramways and became fascinated with their design and capabilities. Because of the steep terrain, many trams in Europe do not require any towers to support the wire ropes. The…

An Outdoor Rock Climbing Adventure What is a “Via Ferrata”? It’s an “Iron Path” – a fun outdoor rock climbing adventure that makes mountain climbing accessible and safe for anyone who is adventurous enough to give it a try.  No previous rock climbing experience is necessary! Originating in the European Alps, Via Ferratas are typically built to use natural rock…

Join Ranger McIntyre, RMNP, nature-loving fisherman and WWI vet, as he solves mysterious puzzles that pop up in the Park in this Estes Park based Murder Mystery Series by local Colorado author James C. Work. Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park in the 1920’s are full of mysteries.  The Park is new and adventurous.  Americans are hitting the road…

Music in the Mountains Rocky Ridge Music Center holds an Estes Park mountain summer camp for musicians of all ages. Located at the base of Longs Peak a few miles south of Estes Park on Highway 7, it’s just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. This historic summer campus was established in 1942, and fills with youth, college, and adult…

Normally between the third week of September and mid-October! But here’s what affects these “normally” dates… A recipe for disappointing fall colors: Entering fall in drought or near-drought dryness (which causes fall colors to start earlier and be weaker). Fall storms with lots of wind and rain and even snow.  Early frosts cause leaves to turn brown and drop in…

Fall in Estes Park is known for Elk herds wandering through town, trees in vibrant Fall Colors, and Festivals  – it’s one of the favorite times of year to visit this Rocky Mountain town.

Cowboy Brad Fitch brings his popular summer Cowboy Singalongs to Bond Park in downtown Estes Park Sunday and Monday evenings at 7pm. These free one hour concerts start the first weekend in June and go through early August.  They are full of fun for the whole family!  Brad sings campfire favorites, classic country, folk songs, kid’s songs and original compositions….

“Are you human friendly?  I’d like to bring my owner.”

An Insiders Guide to choosing the perfect Estes Park Lodging for your vacation in Rocky Mountain National Park. Estes Park has over 100 lodging choices ranging from a single, privately owned cabin, to a luxurious resort.  If you’ve never been to Estes Park before to get the “lay of the land”, how will you know which one to choose? Here’s…

Where can you watch wild birds in Rocky Mountain National Park? Everyone associates elk with wildlife watching in Rocky Mountain National Park, but birders and summer visitors should know that Rocky Mountain National Park is designated as a national “Important Bird Area” with over 200 different birds spotted – some very rare!

Plan ahead for Christmas 2023 Gather your whole family for an old-fashioned white Christmas this year in Estes Park, Colorado surrounded by the incredible winter beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park. You’ll stay in a cozy mountain cabin, cottage, or suite complete with a wood-burning fireplace and kitchenette from Friday Dec. 22 to Wednesday Dec. 27. 2023. (If you want…

Tips to help you plan ahead! Rocky Mountain National Park is consistently one of the top five most visited national parks in the United States with over 4.5 million visitors. Popularity and high visitation during the summer and fall equals crowds. Particularly during 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. it can mean full parking lots, bumper to bumper traffic, busy trails,…

  Sparkling lights on a snowy winter night make Castle Mountain Lodge in Estes Park a magical place! If you’re looking for an old-fashioned White Christmas in the mountains, learn about the Castle Mountain Christmas Package.  

Winter Full Moon Night Walk For an unforgettable winter experience, join Rocky Mountain National Park rangers for a Full Moon Walk on the night of the full moon in winter months (December through March). Call the Park for  scheduled dates and reservation.  Reservations are required no more than 7 days in advance.  Call 970-586-1223 between 9a – 4p daily.  There…

Take a virtual hike with Trekker! The trails listed below show up in Google Maps as Trekker 3D views. Select the trail you want, then use your cursor to move the yellow man symbol along the blue trail line to see the view from that point on the trail – a great way to preview your hikes!

Here’s a list of  some of the best guidebooks and books about Estes Park to help you plan your activities.  Learn more to enjoy and appreciate this special place! Many of these books can be found on Amazon and ship for free with Prime, however a local bookstore like Macdonald Book Shop on Elkhorn Avenue in Estes Park is a…

Learn interesting facts about wildlife and the natural world in Rocky Mountain National Park month-by-month from a local nature guide. Text and most photos provided by Jared Gricoskie of Yellow Wood Guiding.  Find out how you can book your own guided tour of RMNP by visiting his website. Choose a topic or month and learn a fact: Lichen Do What…

Did you know that the only place to buy food inside Rocky Mountain National Park is at the Alpine Visitor Center at the top of Trail Ridge Road? But you can always take your breakfast, lunch or dinner to a picnic area on a beautiful mountain day and enjoy being outside. . . There are lots of convenient picnic areas…

Estes Park is a festive haunt* each Halloween! With an abundance of local haunted lore, the town comes alive with great activity. Check out events at the Stanley Hotel and the Historic Park Theater *Haunt a place frequented by a person or group A Haunted Hotel ? Estes Park’s Stanley Hotel inspired Stephen King to write his famous novel, “The…

Health Care has certainly been in the news and on our minds over the past few years. With more time, money and energy spent on staying healthy, insurance companies are looking for new ways to cut their bottom line. Studies have shown that maintaining health is much less expensive than fixing health woes once they occur, so many insurance companies…

Honor the Past, Celebrate the Present, Inspire the Future From September 4, 2014, through September 4, 2015, Rocky Mountain National Park along with local and national communities celebrated the park’s 100th Anniversary. Speakers, special activities, and community events were coordinated to commemorate the Centennial. Whether you’re a regular visitor, a national park traveler, or a virtual explorer, Rocky Mountain National…

The Stanley Hotel is an Estes Park landmark. Coming into town you see it on the hill above town, a big white neoclassical building.  With panoramic views, it looks over the Continental Divide of nearby Rocky Mountain National Park.  Lumpy Ridge forms a dramatic backdrop behind it. Built in 1909 , F.O. Stanley picked the best location for his 140…